C8AX Fire in Texas Queensland.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Jeff,

Very sad to hear. Can you email me the picture? I will post it here.

Hanno

[Pete Solomon]

On Sunday my CA8X Blitz suffered a catastrophic engine failure while I was driving it. She spluttered a bit but kept running, smoke filled the cab and I opened the inspection cover to see what the problem was and a flame thrower came out! I was covered in burning fuel and was on fire!

Needless to say there were some expletives exchanged with my passenger, I dumped the old girl off the road into the scrub and we made a hasty exit - me still on fire. My passenger bravely returned to the cab to retrieve my pistols and 400 rounds of ammo (we were on the way to the shooting club) and then ran to help put me out.

I have some nasty burns to my hip and under arm and 1st degree burns to most of my left side. I am sans hair on that side as well - all very sore and uncomfortable but I will recover. The same, unfortunately can not be said for my Blitz - it started a scrub fire and has been completely destroyed.

My mechanic has examined the wreck and thinks the main fuel line nipple into the front of the carby actually blew the thread out and came loose - pouring fuel onto the exhaust manifold. The worst thing I could have done was open the hatch as we were traveling at about 35 mph and it forced burning fuel & flames through into the cab (I did'nt expect it you know!)

All in all a very sad day. I'm just happy to still be alive actually - it could have been a lot worse. I've never been on fire before and becoming a human candle is not recommended by me!

I've tried to attach a couple of photos. My passenger took a few on scene before th ambulance arrived and I went back out and got some the next day.

Cheers

[Jeff Gordon]

Hi Pete,
I am so glad you are alive!
I bet you were in a lot of pain!
Burns are so painful!
Total shame about the Blitz.
It would be worth restoring but a lot of work.
I watched a mates pride FC Holden burn to the ground.
It was frightening how fast it happened.
Just glad your OK.
Cheers
Jeff

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Peter

Sorry to hear about the incident, obviously that you and your passenger got out is the prime thing to be thankful for. Glad your injuries though uncomfortable will not have any long lasting affect.

Sorry the truck is a right off, but that you are around to look for another is the big thing.

Cheers Phil

[gordon]

... any landing you can walk away from.

Sorry to hear about the injuries, but your mission now has to be to find another one to rescue and balance up the numbers.

[motto (RIP)]

I hope you were insured Peter!

David

[Pete Solomon]

Thanks everyone for your words of concern and support - It's been a week now and I'm starting to feel much better. I returned to work Thursday but still have dressings on my hip and I am not wearing my uniform shirt rather an issued T Shirt as the polyester/nylon number was rubbing under my arm too much.

The Blitz was insured - with Shannons. For those of you in Australia who have access to them all I can say is go with them. They have been very good. I lodged the claim over the phone, they told me the steps I need to take and handled everything with no mess, no fuss. The claims assessor rang last Thursday and they have written off the vehicle but as it is over 30 years old I have rights of Salvage. I have been very impressed with their service, speed of claim and professionalism.

I'm not sure where too next. I have been grounded by the bride who doesn't want me owning or working on any more projects for awhile - it was pretty scary for her to take "That phone call" so I'll let things cool off at home for bit before we see whats next. A Landrover LRDP vehicle would be nice!

Cheers
Pete